Ubisoft’s Avatar Game Won’t Be Released Before 2020

Ubisoft has made some major announcements today regarding its game release schedule for the next two years. Fans can look forward to picking up a new Assassin’s Creed installment, taking an exotic FPSout for a fifth spin with Far Cry 5, and playing The Crew 2. What’s missing from Ubisoft’s two-year calendar, however, is Massive Entertainment’s upcoming Avatargame, which the company clarified won’t be released before 2020.

The announcement was made during Ubisoft’s earnings call yesterday. Eight AAA games are slated for release between now and 2020, but Avataris definitively not one of them. An Ubisoft representative gave a statement to IGN that confirmed the company has no plans to launch the game before James Cameron’s Avatar 2 is released in theaters on December 18, 2020.

More specifically, the game won’t hit shelves before fiscal year 2021. In terms of Ubisoft’s particular financial calendar, fans shouldn’t expect to see Massive Entertainment’s Avatar released before April 1, 2020.

The Ubisoft representative gave the following statement: “Avatar is one of the biggest and most powerful entertainment brands. Our first game was profitable and we have great plans for the new one, with a very strong studio and engine. The movie will be released end of 2020, so our game won’t be released before FY21.”

The upcoming Avatar game was first announced by Massive Entertainment earlier this year, and is the second Avatar title published by Ubisoft. The company previously released James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game in 2009 in conjunction with the release of Cameron’s original film.

Given Ubisoft’s statement, it appears that the company is planning to align the release of future games with the release of Cameron’s upcoming sequels. Currently, four Avatar sequels are lined up to launch between 2020 and 2025. As indicated by IGN, no word on whether the Avatar game will be an adaptation of the films’ narratives, or if it will be an all-new story.

Though Avatar hopefuls may be dismayed at the news, there’s still plenty to get hyped up about on the Ubisoft release front. The company confirmed that four of its eight planned AAA games will be released in the next fiscal year, including South Park: The Fractured But Whole, which saw multiple production delays since its initial unveiling. The remaining four AAA titles will launch the following year, which will include additions to current-standing series and the introduction to a brand-new franchise.

Additionally, Ubisoft is set to take the stage at E3 next month. Ubisoft’s E3 2017 presentation begins on Monday, June 12 at 1 pm PDT/4 PM EDT. Fans can likely expect to see teasers, trailers, and exclusive first looks at Ubisoft’s upcoming projects.

Again, Ubisoft’s next Avatar game likely won’t be released before April 1, 2020.